NFL Predictions: A Look at Every NFL Game This Season
By Steven Kriz
Championship Weekend
Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos:
The Broncos win the toss and defer the kick, allowing their dominant defense the first crack. On the second play from scrimmage, Dalton drops back to pass and is leveled by Von Miller and the ball comes free. Derek Wolfe lands on the loose ball and the Broncos convert three plays later on a 14 yard touchdown run by C.J. Anderson. The Bengals are forced to punt the next three times they touch the ball, while the Broncos convert their next two drives into Brandon McManus field goals. Late in the second quarter, withe the Bengals driving, Darian Stewart jumps a route on a pass intended for A.J. Green and takes the ball up the right sideline for a touchdown. The Broncos carry a 20-0 lead into halftime.
After halftime the Broncos march right down the filed, and Paxton Lynch fires a deep jump ball to Demaryius Thomas for a 42 yard touchdown. On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Bengals finally find the end zone and they find it again on the next drive. It is too little too late at this point, as the Broncos finish the game with a five minute field goal drive, and the Broncos head back to the Super Bowl for the second consecutive year, and for the third time in four years.
The Pick: Broncos 30 Bengals 14
Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers:
The Panthers open the game as 6.5 point favorites, however but the Packers aren’t listening. Green Bay takes the opening kickoff the distance, capped off by a four yard Eddie Lacy touchdown run. The Panthers struggle in the first half, as Cam Newton is sacked three times, and loses a fumble late in the first quarter, setting up a GB field goal. With two minutes to go in the first half, the Packers get another field goal, increasing their lead to 13-0. However, the Panthers march 75 yards in a minute and a half to score before the half ends and cuts the lead to 13-7.
Opening the second half with the ball, then Panthers seemingly have it going as CaMVP throws a 28 yard pass down the seam to Greg Olsen for a touchdown and suddenly the Panthers have the lead. The Panthers get one more touchdown early in the fourth quarter to go up 21-13 and their defense is in top form coming down the stretch. Just the opposite of the first half, the Packers get the ball back with 1:26 remaining having to travel 81 yards. On the first play of the drive, Jordy Nelson gets behind the defense and Rodgers gets out of a sure sack and throws a dagger 52 yards in the air and Jordy Nelson takes it the distance. A draw play to Eddie Lacy works as they convert the two point conversion to tie the game at 21. The Panthers get the ball with a minute to go, but Newton is sacked on second and 6, and they hand the ball off on third and long and this thing is going to overtime.
In overtime the Packers receive the kick and go three and out. The Panthers get the ball back and cross mid field, but a holding penalty on the next play moves them back and they are forced to punt. On the Packers next drive, a first down Eddie Lacy run for 22 yards get the drive started off right. Rodgers hits Randall Cobb on a short crosser and he makes the next man miss and gets the Packers into field goal rage. The next three plays are running plays as they advance the ball another four yards. This sets up a 48 yard field goal for a chance to go to the Super Bowl. Crosby knocks it right down the middle and the Packers are going to Houston.
The Pick: Packers 24 Panthers 21
Next: Super Bowl LI